Women-led startups in Pakistan received a major boost on 23 September 2026, when the Standard Chartered Foundation awarded Rs10.5 million in equity-free grants across three winning ventures at a graduation ceremony in Karachi. The grants came at the close of the eighth cohort of the Women in Tech Accelerator, a programme that has quietly become one of the most consistent sources of early-stage funding for female founders in the country.
Three Women-Led Startups in Pakistan Win Big
The Standard Chartered Foundation, working with INNOVentures Global and Village Capital, concluded the eighth cohort of the Women in Tech Accelerator for Pakistan, giving out equity-free grant funding worth Rs10.5 million to three women-led startups at a Karachi event. EV Square, founded by Aimen Shafique, took first place and Rs5 million. Blusha App, founded by Minahil Zafar, won the second spot and Rs3 million. Zvolta, founded by Anusha Shahid, claimed third place and Rs2.5 million.
The three ventures span different sectors. EV Square works in electric vehicles, a growing space in Pakistan’s urban transport scene. Blusha App targets consumer tech, while Zvolta rounds out the cohort with its own tech-enabled focus. Having women founders across such different sectors shows that women-led startups in Pakistan are not confined to a single niche.
What Makes These Grants Different
Most early-stage funding in Pakistan comes with strings, either equity in the company or a loan to repay. The programme gives out more than $600,000 in grant funding annually, non-dilutive capital that lets founders scale without immediate equity pressure. That matters a great deal in a market where access to capital for female entrepreneurs remains one of the most persistent gaps in emerging markets, and women-led ventures often receive less than 3 per cent of venture funding.
The three winners will also receive an extra six months of hand-holding and financial oversight, along with lifelong membership of the Women in Tech Alumni Network. This post-grant support is something most prize programmes skip, and it makes a real difference in whether a startup can actually use the money well.
How the Accelerator Works
The accelerator started with 30 founders going through a six-day bootcamp, after which 10 women entrepreneurs received three months of tailored investment-readiness support and expert mentorship. From those 10, only three made it to the final grant stage, which means the selection process is tough and the winners had to prove real traction.
Through mentorship, business advisory support, industry connections, and capacity-building, the Women in Tech Accelerator is built to help entrepreneurs strengthen their business models and speed up their growth journey.
The local delivery partner, INNOVentures Global, runs the accelerator in Pakistan, using its experience in entrepreneur support and ecosystem development. Village Capital handles global programme strategy and connects Pakistani founders to peers and funders across 12 countries.
Eight Years of Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Since the programme launched in Pakistan, it has supported more than 200 women-led startups through mentorship and awarded over $425,000 in grant funding. That is a meaningful track record, even if the amounts per startup are modest by global standards. For early-stage founders in Pakistan who struggle to get bank loans or angel investment, a grant of Rs2.5m to Rs5m can be the difference between shutting down and scaling up.
Since its launch in Pakistan, the programme has supported more than 1,300 enterprises overall, with over 150 women founders graduating and more than 50 ventures securing seed funding. The gap between 1,300 enterprises and 200 women-led startups suggests the programme has cast a wide net over the years, touching businesses at different stages.
If you want to understand how these kinds of accelerator opportunities fit into Pakistan’s broader startup scene, see our earlier coverage of the Pakistan Investor Summit 2026 organized by NIC Karachi, which shows how local institutions are also working to close the funding gap.
Pakistan Inside a Bigger Global Push
The Pakistan accelerator is part of the Standard Chartered Foundation’s global Women in Tech initiative, which runs across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan. Globally, the programme aims to support 400 women entrepreneurs across 12 countries, distribute over $1.9 million in catalytic grants, enable more than 1,200 jobs, and connect women founders to a global network of peers, funders, and industry experts.
In 2025, 71 women-led startups in the programme grew their businesses and collectively generated over $2 million in additional revenue. That figure is a strong signal that grant-funded accelerators do produce measurable returns, even without equity structures.
Why This Matters for Pakistan’s Startup Ecosystem
Pakistan’s startup sector has faced a tough couple of years, with global funding dry spells and local economic pressure hitting founders hard. Against that backdrop, an institutional funder consistently showing up for women-led startups in Pakistan sends a clear signal. It tells other investors, local and foreign, that these businesses are worth backing.
The equity-free structure of these grants is also worth watching. As more programmes adopt non-dilutive models, founders can build real businesses before giving away ownership. That could shift the power balance in Pakistan’s early-stage funding scene over the next few years. For anyone thinking about the NIC Islamabad Cohort 6 or similar programmes, the Women in Tech Accelerator model offers a useful comparison in how structured support can be delivered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which three startups won the Standard Chartered Foundation grants in Pakistan?
EV Square, founded by Aimen Shafique, won Rs5 million. Blusha App, founded by Minahil Zafar, received Rs3 million. Zvolta, founded by Anusha Shahid, was awarded Rs2.5 million.
Are these grants equity-free?
Yes. The three women-led startups received equity-free grant funding totalling Rs10.5 million. This means the founders do not give up any ownership or shares in their companies in exchange for the money.
How many women-led startups in Pakistan has this programme supported since it started?
Since its launch, the programme has supported more than 200 women-led startups in Pakistan through mentorship and awarded over $425,000 in grant funding.
Can women founders apply for the next cohort?
The Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan, powered by the Standard Chartered Foundation and delivered in partnership with Village Capital and INNOVentures Global, is designed for women founders who are ready to grow their tech-enabled startups with the right support, structure, and capital. Applications for future cohorts are announced through the Standard Chartered Pakistan Women in Tech page and through INNOVentures Global. The programme supports validated, growth-stage startups that are already in motion and ready to scale sustainably.